I’ve seen a lot of different reactions when people mention the Halo series; everything from unending praise to the grumbling that there isn’t anything special about the series. I am a fan of the series and I’ve enjoyed everything from the soundtracks to the novels. Knowing that, it’s not too surprising that I was excited about the release of Halo 3: ODST.

You start out playing as the faceless, voiceless ODST member known as ‘Rookie.’ Your job is to track down your teammates after a six hour black-out from crash landing in New Mombasa, the fictional African city that Master Chief rampaged through in the second level of Halo 2. Without giving too much of the story away, for those yet to get their hands on it, you find the areas and items your teammates have left behind and play through flashbacks in order to understand the series of events that brought them, and now you, there.

Besides the story of the ODST members, you have the opportunity to collect sound files scattered throughout New Mombasa. These files give you a peek at what was happening to a few important civilians when the Covenant first arrived in the city. Though much of it is just a nice side story it does overlap with the main story, giving it a new perspective to look from.

I will admit that going from the juggernaut-like Master Chief to the relatively fragile members of the ODST was something that required getting used to. I could no longer run up to a Brute and pistol-whip him once without worry of retaliation. I had to take my time and work out a strategy to get rid of him without killing myself. It was wonderful having the feeling that if I stay out in the open for too long, I’d end up in a pool of my own blood.

Firefight mode is an interesting addition; it provides a nice alternative to the matchmaking from Halo 3. Fending off wave after wave of endless Covenant has provided my friends and I with hours of fun, no matter how frustrating things could get. The party max of 4 can be a little disappointing; however the battle would be that much easier if the party increased in size, so I can make do with what was provided.

For the Halo fans out there, if you haven’t picked up this game, I suggest you do. This game adds a lot more to the rich story that Bungie is constructing and allows you to climb out of the comforting cloak of Master Chief's abilities. On some level, everyone can be pleased with the results, whether it’s thanks to Firefight mode or to the wonderful soundtrack that has been composed.

Rating: 9.5/10

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